THE STRUCTURE OF FLUORENE (C13H10) AND THE FLUORENE ARGON VANDERWAALS COMPLEX FROM A HIGH-RESOLUTION NEAR ULTRAVIOLET-SPECTRUM

The high-resolution fluorescence excitation spectrum of the fluorene molecule and its van der Waals complex with argon has been studied. Rotationally resolved spectra were obtained by combining a well-collimated supersonic molecular beam with a single frequency tunable ultraviolet (uv) source. The S//1 implied by S//0O//0**0 vibronic transitions in fluorene and fluorene-argon were observed. The rotational constants of both molecules were determined and from these the structure of the fluorene-argon complex has been deduced. The argon atom is located above the middle five-membered ring.